Tao I have been known to sermonize at tiresome length on the importance of unconscious learning processes in playing guitar (or anything else), and on the futility of using reasoned, con- scious, intellectual "thinking" as one's sole approach to full musicianship; so I am indebted to Andre Previn for this little story, which illustrates an important point: In an interview with Oscar Peterson (during a show in the televised "Previn And The Pittsburgh" series), the conversation drifted, as it inevitably must whenever good piano players talk about GOOD piano players, to Art Tatum... a blind, half-literate, self-taught marvel who, in the cold professional opinion of the best pianists in the world, was the best of the best; and whose spontaneously-improvised playing achievements have never been equaled (or even approached) in the long history of the piano. (Tatum, alas, is no longer with us; but his recordings arc, in case you and your ears are interested). After swapping anecdotes about Tatum's oft-demonstrated ability to outplay ANY musician, jazz or classical, and to con= vert the most eloquent and splendid players of his day into awe- stricken admirers, Previn contributed this illuminating tale: Vladimir Horowitz (whose fame as a virtuoso classical pianist has hopefully not escaped you) decided to work up an arrangement on "Tea For Two", which at that time was fairly new, fresh, and an excellent example of "mainstream" American popular music; and the chord-changes of which had provided many a jazz musician with opportunities to display his improvising abilities, So Horowitz worked on it for months of patient, arduous toil until he had a real slam-bang, show-off, impossible-to-play (for anyone but Horowitz) "virtuoso" piece. When he finally got his arrangement mastered, with variation after difficult variation on "Tea For Two", he did not immediately include it in his concert repertoire, Horowitz, being no dummy, took it first to Tatum, to get an opinion. When he had finished playing his "variations" for the old pro, he was pleased when Tatum said "Yeah".,., and then Tatum sat down and played HIS "Tea For Two". And played it, And PLAYED it! And kept right on playing it, piling one incredible chorus after another, until Horowitz finally stopped him. hat is utterly amazing!" said Horowitz. "How long ago did you work out that arrangement?" And Tatum replied, "Just now", (Any questions?) Bic aren